Mum does the same every Christmas – she hides those sprouts in all manner of disguises to try and get us to eat them, but my brother and I grew wise over 20 years ago. She can’t even mangle one into the stuffing now without us sniffing it a mile-off, but she tries it, every year.
If you’re dreading certain ‘traditions’, or you just can’t face the kitchen, we might have the Christmas day or New Year’s Eve dinner solution for you. These great restaurants all offer top notch nosh to rival any home-cooking, and you can still book for the day. Best of all, (unless you march into the staff room) you won’t offend anyone at all if you hold the sprouts.
Brasserie Roux Restaurant, London - four course Christmas Day lunch with a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival, coffee and petit fours - £86 per person
Doing OK in the capital and need to show off about it subtly? Well there’s no better spot than the award-winning Brasserie Roux. Their four course Christmas Day lunch is the ideal treat for your family if you can’t be bothered to cook. You’ll get a complimentary glass of Pommery Brut Royal champers on arrival (ooh er), coffee and petit fours, and your classic French food will be served with a smile in elegant surroundings – not quite the local pub. We’re talking three beautiful arched windows with superb views across Pall Mall and Waterloo Place. If the kids are lucky, Santa will drop in too. All we need now is some snow… Find out more here
Athenaeum Restaurant, London - five course Christmas Day lunch menu with pre-lunch drinks, coffee and mince pies - £75 per person
As you’re ushered into the Whiskey room for your pre-dinner drinks, you’ll feel like Sherlock Holmes on the verge of solving another mystery. That is – how do “the other half” celebrate Christmas, really? It’s true, you’ll experience a classical London Christmas in this gorgeous hotel. The Athenaeum is glamorous, contemporary and modern and you’ll even want the leftovers in a doggy-bag as you tuck into British fare such as Quail consommé with new forest wild mushrooms, Roast Norfolk Turkey with pork chipolatas, bacon rolls, red currant sauce, or Traditional steamed plum pudding with brandy sauce. You’ve got five-courses to get in your bellies though, so take your time, pull some crackers, and pity the poor soul in the kitchen who has to wash up.
Find out more here
Circus Restaurant, London - five course New Year’s Eve menu with free entry to the bar - £60 per person
Nellie the elephant packed her trunk and said hello to the Circus. Well, who wouldn’t, now that this great Soho spot’s been refurbishe
d and given a hot, NYC style fresh new look, complete with new floor, new lighting, and new furniture? New Year’s Eve is the time to sample the brand new menu too - the best of the best of Parisian bistro fare. After you’ve guzzled your five scrumptious courses – think Roast scallop with Alsace bacon and oyster and chervil fume, or Fillet of line caught sea bass with roast salsify, Jerusalem artichoke and vanilla veloute, (and copious amounts of champers, we’re sure) you’ll get free access to the plush new bar, where a DJ will welcome in 2007 and keep you dancing till 3am. Thank God for the free tube, thanks Ken. Find out more here
Peppers Restaurant, Birmingham - three course New Year’s Eve menu with live DJ and dancing - £30
If you’re planning a night on the tiles in Birmingham, you might want to make Peppers your first stop - for a damn fine feed at this price, you can’t really go wrong. It’s luxurious, warm and the leather seats are so comfortable you’d better be careful not to fall asleep at the table after your 19th poppadom. Specially created by executive chef, Shubojit Chakravarty, the menu here is internationally renowned. This man of the moment prides himself on his authentic dishes, rarely served outside his motherland. You’ll sample dishes such as Chicken tikka - diced chicken breast marinated in special tandoori massala and charcoal grilled, Sesame prawn toast served with deep fried seaweed, and Makhni chooze - tandoor grilled chicken, simmered in a smooth tomato sauce infused with tikka spices and kasoori methi. Are you drooling yet? I am. You’ll definitely need that live DJ to help you dance it all off. Find out more here
Tiger Tiger Restaurant, Leeds - four course New Year's Eve menu with coffee and petit fours - £35 per person
If Leeds is your city of choice for the celebrations, the mammoth Tiger Tiger offers up the chance to go totally wild. With its five different “zones”, each with a different vibe and atmosphere, you can experience five clubs in one, so there’s no need for that pub crawl, or to lose your mates e
n route to the kebab house. Oh no,… after these four courses, plus coffee and petit fours, there’s no way you’ll be needing the usual shish with garlic sauce. Bounce to pop and eye up the totty in the main bar, or people-watch in the lounge bar to jazz and soul, cigars and a long cocktail. See 2006 out in style with a night you won’t forget. Unless you’re suitably sizzled by the time you get home, of course. Find out more here
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